Blood Pact: American Hegemony and the True Bush "Base"

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Fri

May

2006

Blood Pact: American Hegemony and the True Bush "Base"

Written by Chris Floyd

The American conquest of Iraq is an emotional matter. Passions flare at white heat on both sides of the issue. This is understandable. It is indeed very difficult to remain dispassionate while watching a mass murder take place. Opponents of the conquest are naturally driven into chaotic furies of outrage and despair, while supporters are necessarily pushed to rhetorical and political extremes in their frantic attempts to countenance such an appalling crime. It is not a situation conducive to rational analysis.

Nevertheless, it is instructive to step back from the barricades now and again, to remind ourselves of the hard ground of reality so often obscured by the blood-red mist of emotion clouding our eyes. The chief reality, of course, is that the invasion and occupation of Iraq is primarily about oil and the preservation of the American way of life. It is based on the premise that the latter is a question of supreme importance, a moral value overriding all others. That "the American way of life" is itself riddled with gross inequalities is beside the point here, for these inequalities greatly benefit all those who have the power to make or influence policies in "the national interest."

Once this basic premise is accepted, the conquest – which otherwise seems a pointless, reckless paroxysm of elitist greed – can be seen as a logical if difficult step undertaken in accordance with a carefully reasoned strategy. War, mass death, torture, repression and the monstrous lies surrounding the instigation of the conquest can thus be justified as "necessary evils" to secure a greater good.

To put it simply, America must have unfettered access to Persian Gulf oil in order to maintain the infrastructure of its economy – indeed of its entire society, whic

h is based on the availability of cheap gasoline and other petroleum-based products. In the coming decades of oil scarcity, the vast reserves in the Middle East will be even more crucial. The Bush Administration estimates that Iraq's current reserves, when fully developed, could reach as high as 220 billion barrels; if the still unexplored territories of its western wasteland are counted, this figure could top 300 billion – far surpassing the reserves of Saudi Arabia, as Canadian journalist Paul William Roberts reports in his important book, A War Against Truth. What's more, Iraqi oil is remarkably easy to extract – hence remarkably profitable.

Anyone who controls or dominates Iraq's oil industry will ultimately be able to break the Saudi-led OPEC cartel, inhibit or at least modulate the rise of China and India to superpower status – and squeeze Russia, whose economy now depends on exports of its increasingly expensive, hard-to-extract oil, as Roberts notes. Thus none of these potential rivals will be able to challenge America's global hegemony – the "full spectrum dominance" that has been publicly touted as the overarching goal of American policy by Bush Factionists such as Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz since 1992.

Such hegemony can only be maintained by military means; hence the more than 700 U.S. military installations, ranging from vast city-fortresses, like the permanent U.S. bases now being built in Baghdad and Balad in Iraq, to small "lily-pad" jumping-off points for quick strikes around the globe. Hence the Bush Administration's ongoing militarization of space and its accelerated drive to test and develop new nuclear weapons. Hence the unleashing of secret Pentagon forces to conduct "military operations other than war" in dozens of countries without any legal restraints, as noted here last week.

Military force is essential because the American economy is in an advanced state of decadence and cannot win its way to continued dominance by peaceful means. The American elite is now given over almost entirely to the manipulation of financial instruments to produce vast private profits, disconnected from the surrounding community. The actual production of actual goods is in steep decline, bringing with it a corresponding decay in the quality of American life below the elite level. Without cheap oil – and despite the panicky sticker-shock at the pump today, Americans still pay far less than most people for fuel – the whole fragile house of cards could fall. Thus dominance and survival have become intertwined; and both depend on mastery of the Middle East's resources.

Saddam Hussein became a target not because he oppressed his people or warred with his neighbors or threatened Israel or once developed WMD – all of which he did during his years as an American ally. He had to be removed because he would not allow American and British oil firms to exploit Iraqi resources, but was instead signing deals with Chinese, French and Russian companies. This was intolerable. It put the preservation of the American way of life – and the global dominance on which it now depends – in the hands of foreign interests. With global reserves dwindling, Iraq's oil was simply too important to be entrusted to others any longer; direct intervention was required.

And so the war came, with its lies, murder, ruin, and corruption. Yet how many of those now opposed to this horrific military action are prepared to pay the actual cost of ending it: i.e., relinquishing the guarantee of cheap oil and the lifestyle it sustains? The number is doubtless very small. The large remainder should perhaps be seen as the true "Bush base." For while they may oppose his tactical incompetence in this instance, they share, wittingly or unwittingly, his strategic goal. With this basic common cause between the elite and the majority, the wars for oil will go on – no matter who sits in the White House.

Chris Floyd/A version of this column appears in the May 5 edition of The Moscow Times. Links to more sources can be found after the jump.
Wealth and Democracy : A Political History of the American Rich
Kevin Phillips, Broadway Books, April 2003

In the chaos of Iraq, one project is on target: a giant US embassy
The Times, May 3, 2006

Failures cited in Iraq rebuilding
Boston Globe, May 2, 2006

Peddling Democracy
TomDispatch.com, May 2, 2006

Votes Counted. Deals Made. Chaos Wins.
New York Times, April 30, 2006

Baghdad Year Zero: Pillaging Iraq in pursuit of a neocon utopia
Harper’s Magazine, Sept. 24. 2004

Robert McNamara: Apocalypse Soon
Foreign Policy: May/June 2005

The Potemkin Congress
San Francisco Chronicle, May 2, 2006

US Admits Iraq War is Terror Cause
The Times, April 29, 2006

Bush challenges hundreds of laws
Boston Globe, April 30, 2006

Elite Families Led Stealth Campaign to Repeal Estate Tax
Public Citizen, April 25, 2006

Earth-Penetrating Weapons
Union of Concerned Scientists, May 2005

Pentagon Revises Nuclear Strike Plan
Washington Post, Sept. 11, 2005

Iraqi Strife Seeping Into Saudi Kingdom
Los Angeles Times, April 26, 2006

Top Spy’s Story on Prewar Intel Is Finally Told
Truthdig.com, April 26, 2006

Inspectors Find More Torture at Iraqi Jails
Washington Post, April 24, 2006

My Guantanamo Diary
Washington Post, April 30, 2006

Sex and money bought Iraq contracts
Los Angeles Times, April 20, 2006

Learning to Count: The Dead in Iraq
Truthout.org, April 13, 2006

Extended Presence of U.S. in Iraq Looms Large
Associated Press, March 21, 2006

Mother Lode
The Moscow Times, Feb. 11, 2005

Oil Deals Await Final Petroleum Law
Houston Chronicle, March 31, 2006

Secret U.S. Plans for Iraq's Oil
BBC Newsnight, March 21, 2005

Iraqgate: Confession and Coverup
Consortiumnews.com, May/June 1995

"The Barreling Bushes,"
Los Angeles Times, Jan. 11, 2004

"The Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush,"
Kevin Phillips interview, Buzzflash.com, Jan. 4, 2004

US Was a Key Supplier to Saddam
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Sept. 24, 2002

US Dual-Use Exports to Iraq
US Senate Committee on Banking,, May 25, 1994

US WMD-Related Exports to Iraq
US Senate Banking Committee, Oct. 27, 1992

Liberated Kuwait: Rape, Reprisal and Repression
San Francisco Bay Guardian, Sept. 9, 1992

Why the Gulf War was not in the National Interest
The Atlantic Monthly, July 1991,

The Hidden History of America's War on Iraq
Synthesis/Regeneration, Winter 2003

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waldo said:

	7 deadly sins Chris mate Greed, gluttony, avarice, pride, lust; 5 out of 7 ain't bad. If stupidity were a sin...
	report abuse vote down vote up

May 05, 2006
Votes: +0

brotherbruz said:

Sad but True.
Today's message is sad but true.

No crystal ball or pure white Lilly held within our two hands...not even to invite the gentle sound of a bell could have said these truths so well...

Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to look at the mess as tragically as we should. The cataclysm is happening. We are among the ruins. We may try to start to build a new little green-zone garrison or new safe-haven and hope we are safe. But that is vain work. There is no smooth road into the future; but we go round and round to scramble around the (electric) red-light warning obstacles.

Chris, your right. We have got to live and learn. No matter how many bombs keep falling and skies keep falling...The War brought the roof down upon our world as we've known it.

The animated Chicken Little Rumsfeld character's critics are truthful. The Generals have been stupid-goons to help cause vast suffering because they have been ploys for filthy-rich little-boys.

The staff at The White House is rotten. The world knows this and warfaring must end. Suffering has its threshold of maximum endurance level.

The pro-war 'folks' own character will ruin them further to punish themselves. We know they languish and know...When the truth is told at trials (Nuremberg Laws and Confessions which they never have abide by) or until the day when their own burial graves are covered with dirt...Whatever--someone else comes along to bury those who have replaced them. Life is like that for you and me too...so we be wise to wager the truth wins in the brief end...so, keep telling the unadulterated
truth.

What more can be said? A flower fades...as individuals our Life ends?

If only those you address would simply hold their bowed-head between their two hands to feel some genuine grief and shame...it's not crying...it's deeper than that...What anger they delight in producing.

What Shame...Sad but True.

May 05, 2006
Votes: +0

brynn said:

wake up America!
You've stated the painful, sobering truth more starkly and eloquently than I've read it anywhere else so far. Thank you.

Now what?

I've left the US to live in Europe in large part as a response to Bush--I will not pay taxes to support the war. I'm demonstrating in front of the US embassy tomorrow for peace, as I've done many times. I refuse to own a car, preferring to bike or walk as my primary means of transportation. I rarely eat meat, live in a small studio apartment, do not own a television. Basically, as a resident of the so-called "first world," I try in every way I know to lessen my impact on the planet. I don

May 05, 2006
Votes: +0

Paul said:

Majority
Chris,
For once your piece makes me doubt. I hasten to add that this has also ulterior motives because I find your conclusions so thoroughly depressing.

You may be running up against some logic here.
Why wouldn't Bush just outrightly say what he's doing and thus end his trouble with the uncomprehending US-public? If indeed the (future)price at the pump is the rockbottom concern of the majority of those who now disapprove, why doesn't he exploit that in any way in his current situation? Surely he or Rove would be that shrewd?

And you write: "With this basic common cause between the elite and the majority, the wars for oil will go on

May 05, 2006
Votes: +0

Guest said:

...
Always, Chris, the best.

You, time and again, put into words, documenting element by element the essence of what is, in fact, a hideous, hideous existence of what is truly America.

Unfortunately, most Americans, I beleive, are Bush supporters (as were prior generations were of the leaders of their time). It matters none to these people as they willfully and repeatedly look and believe at the (stratigic) reality that is made for them. They are a fearful and hatefilled people -- Only seeing, in effect, their past and are challenged by and fear the future.

None that I am aware of are able to change themselves.

May 05, 2006
Votes: +0

Guest said:

WWIII Underway
Bush says fight against terror is 'World War III'

He is right about one thing: the war is "on". The nationalization of oil and gas resources in Bolivia on May 1st was a key event that I felt was downplayed. Bolivia is small, but the boldness of the action was large.

The US is being encircled by countries determined to defeat us economically and financially. We will not be allowed to rule the world, or even Iraq. And the gloves will come off completely if the Bush Regime is so foolish as to initiate war with Iran.

In my opinion, countries strongly opposed to the Bush Regime are learning by trial and error how to initiate regime change in the United States: raise the price of a gallon of gasoline.

I like your work, Chris Floyd. Too bad America hasn't been paying attention to you.

I do think people will adapt to expensive energy. Our lifestyle is immensely wasteful and much fat can be trimmed from the average family's budget. We may end up using rickshaws or even horses, but we will abide. The reason is that all of the propaganda we have been fed is based on idealism. Those ideas about freedom, courage and self-reliance are burned into us from an early age, even if we never use them. That creates a two-edged sword that will bite the fascists running the government, eventually. (To make a Bushism, freedom is hard work! Hahah.)

Soon enough regime change will happen here. Though I fear the outbreak of a true WWIII, perhaps with nukes, the stealth WWIII is already here. I am, still, optimistic about the future and committed to non-violent solutions to our problems -- though I do believe in the right of the individual to self-defense (and the rest of the Bill of Rights, however much ignored by our sad and pathetic leaders :)

Best wishes.

May 06, 2006
Votes: +0

Guest said:

	... " In an age of universal deceit, telling the truth is regarded as an act of treason. " George Orwell
	report abuse vote down vote up

May 06, 2006
Votes: +0

Guest said:

What costs?
"Yet how many of those now opposed to this horrific military action are prepared to pay the actual cost of ending it: i.e., relinquishing the guarantee of cheap oil and the lifestyle it sustains?"

I not only strongly opposed this obscene and bloody war right from the start, but I am fully prepared to "pay the cost". What costs? Working for a better society and even a better world that answers to peoples' needs and not to profits first and foremost? This "cost" is not a thing to fear, but an opportunity to create a more humane world where communities will be smaller and each of us can become important contributors to our communities (where labor is finally prized and politician leeches aren't), where people will barter skills and items to survive together, and the nuclear family will go the way of the dinosaurs. I, for one, am looking forward to a world without coal, oil and gas that pollutes our environment and tears apart families and societies, and destroys whole cultures through globalization and its handmaiden, war. It is too bad that I am now an old woman; I am certainly ready and willing to roll up my sleeves and help give birth to this possible and wonderful way of living. I am not afraid of hard work nor of tough times since I have tiled the soil in my youth and have raised two healthy children alone in poverty later on. My only regret is that I might not live long enough to see this more humane world come into full existence forced by the necessity to survive. My children and grandchildren will be lucky as well as blessed IF others will also come to understand that nuclear power is not the solution to our energy needs either. Otherwise, US Americans will reap what they have allowed to be sowed in Iraq, namely massive radiation sickness (as produced by DU ammunition used by the military). Indeed, it is time to "wake up" AND to start a new way of living with fresh eyes, or else the human race will not survive. It's time for the human race to grow up.

May 06, 2006
Votes: +0

Guest said:

...
The damned middle east Oil-do we really 'need' it? There is said to be in the southwest-Colorado and enviorns-more oil shale and more oil than the entire known reserves of the Middle East-Kuwait and Saudi Arabia included. Are we fighting a useless war to protect multinational corporate investments? Also, in the automobile-the system of vapourising and delivering fuels to the internal combustion engine is vastly inefficient-look at the grey trails of smoke from an automobile exhaust pipe... Concerning the IC engine, what is vapourized burns-fuel particles not vapourised end as pollution. Heat-from the exhaust of the engine can be used to vapourise fuel and result in an increased efficiency. See: US Patent 4611567 or 4368163and US Patent Class/Subclass: 123/543. There are over a thousand patents there-counting back from the turn of the nineteenth century and the invention of the modern automobile.(USP 2,026,798) Some more recent ones:US Patent5794601,4177779,4167165, 5156114,5794601. The oil companies hold such patents as has been rumoured. See: US Patent 3957024. Also see: SAE Paper #760564. Why has not the public heard of this technology? Is it because our mass press is as tightly controlled as that of the former Soviet Union-but by different people and for different purposes?

May 07, 2006
Votes: +0

admin said:

...

...On reading the recent wave of stories concerning US readiness to bomb Iran back to the Stone Age unless it gives up efforts to produce nuclear weapons, my first reaction was to be "shocked and awed". But then a realization sank in. All this noise concerning Iranian nuclear preparations was, as William Shakespeare had it, "a tale ... full of sound and fury, signifying nothing".

As a former director of an oil exchange with recent experience in Iran due to my involvement in a proposed Iranian oil bourse, it has been clear to me for some time that the nuclear issue is a red herring. But I confess that it had puzzled me for some time why everything except oil is going to be privatized in Iraq.

"It's good for the US," I thought.

Well, I did until I recently read an analysis by Greg Muttitt of the plans by Big Oil to enter 40-year Production-Sharing Agreements (PSAs) with Iraq. The deal is this: we develop your oilfields, and in return we get - for 40 years - a major share of your crude-oil production at favorable "at cost" prices. The outcome will be profits beyond the dreams of avarice.

Once these contracts are signed, of course, global institutions (backed by US policing) will ensure that they are honored, whatever happens subsequently in Iraq, and whatever countries are able to influence policy in Iraq. The fact that there is still a US base in Cuba, for instance, illustrates how rigorously international treaties and the rule of law may apply despite differences in ideology.

Does anyone seriously believe that decision-makers in the US would countenance a bombing campaign that would almost inevitably lead to crude oil at US$150 per barrel, whether or not that suited Big Oil?

While the business community at large in the US may be prepared to sit back and let Big Oil pillage Iraq with PSAs as planned, it would certainly not risk an oil crisis of an order that massively increased its energy costs and saw Joe Six-Pack having to pay $6 a gallon ($1.60 a liter) or worse to fill his sport-utility vehicle.

To enter credible PSAs, there has to be a legitimate government in Iraq. There is none in Baghdad now by any stretch of the imagination, and which country has the power to to prevent one from being formed? That's right, it's Iran.

Full article here

Link

May 07, 2006
Votes: +0

Guest said:

	... It took 500 years for Rome to go from youthful to decadent. America becomes decadent and its republic is 200 years old. Because of its decadence it is doomed. If it thinks it can stand against the rest of the world which increasingly hates it it is deluded as well
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May 07, 2006
Votes: +0

theprof222 said:

	right on! That is why I am calling for concerned citicens to boycott theconsumer economy. Buy nothing unneccessary. Take a vacation; plant a garden and hunker down with friends.
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